~ To get you through the Arch and beyond…

First Month as a CDI

So, the first football game is over, it’s finally dropping below 70 degrees at night, and we have all officially been Career Development Interns for 4 weeks now. It has been a time filled with lots of training, countless opportunities to shadow consultants, and from time to time being thrown into a job that just a mere 4 weeks ago we would not have been prepared for.

So, what all have I learned in my month’s experience as a CDI?

First, don’t be afraid of an opportunity just because it’s unfamiliar to you. Go ahead and join that organization you are unsure about or try out for that position that you are considering. This CDI position was new to 3 out of 4 of us, so for the most part we were all very unfamiliar with its role. …

Second, do all you can to learn from those around you. We are all in classes learning from professors, but we all also have networks around us of teams, co-workers, friends, and leaders to be learning from. Whether you’re directly asking someone to teach you something, or simply learning from observing, you will be astounded with what you can learn from those you interact with on a daily basis!

And the last thing I will mention because it has been a big part of my life as a CDI this past month is: Do not sell yourself short on your resume. After spending 2 days critiquing resumes for Terry Resume Books, I have noticed and even learned some easy ways to make sure you are marketing yourself in the best way possible to employers.

Make sure you lead with your best foot forward, and this can be done in two ways. First off, target your experience to your audience. If your “Leadership Experience” section is most important to your audience and you, put that first; if your “Public Relations Experience” is most important, then put that first. Also, under each individual job or position that you are describing, make sure to list the most important information (what you would want employers to know the most) as your first statement.

Please, please don’t forget that unpaid or volunteer position that you are including at the bottom of your resume could actually be something very relevant to the employer you are targeting. You may have had a position in a volunteer organization where you used the skills and qualities that the employer is looking for, but if you only include the organization name at the bottom under “Community Involvement”, you might not get the chance to sell that experience.

These are just some of the lessons I have learned while working here, and we hope you will stop by and visit us at the Career Center! We would love to help you along in your career path!